NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Exhaust System Problems

CarComplaints.com Seal Of Avoid Like The Plague

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2007 Mazda CX-7 has numerous reports filed with the NHTSA about engine & A/C problems.

Owners report problems with the 2007 CX-7's Variable Valve Timing (VVT) & timing chain failing, causing major damage to the engine — Mazda uses an interference design so typically the valves are bent & the entire engine needs to be replaced. Mazda dealers typically quote $9,000 for an engine replacement.

There is also a trend of the turbo failing at low mileage.

Finally for the 2007 CX-7 there is a clear pattern of A/C compressor failure at relatively low mileage. Owners report smoke & occasionally the serpentine belt catches fire when the A/C compressor clutch seizes while driving. Mazda extended the A/C warranty to 60,000 miles, however many owners report their A/C compressor failed very soon after the 60k mark.

In 2011, Mazda began a "Special Service Program" that extended the warranty to 7 years/70,000 miles covering turbocharger oil leaks & excessive timing chain noise — an early sign of timing chain failure. However coverage under the program requires perfect documentation of all required maintenance with other stipulations. Buyer beware.

3.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,923 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2007 Mazda CX-7 exhaust system problems

exhaust system problem

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2007 Mazda CX-7 Owner Comments

problem #6

Jan 122008

CX-7

  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2007 Mazda Cx-7. it is a very beautiful car but also has tons of problems. At 15000 miles it was leaking oil and they replace the engine gaskets. Then later was also leaking oil. Was told by the dealer that it was not. Took it to someone else who said it was leaking from the timing chain. Mazda resealed it. Since then my car doesn't shift properly going up and down hills. My air conditioner is hot and makes a funny sound. My car has loss of power and sound like a diesel. Overall I think that Mazda needs to step up and take care of the problems or they will not get many returning customers! something needs to be done! it was a 35000 dollar car!

- Batavia, OH, USA

problem #5

Jun 122010

CX-7

  • 34,540 miles
Purchased a used 2007 Cx-7 with 31,000 miles (still under warranty, allegedly). Drove it for four months to the day, 34,000 miles on it now. White smoke, knocking engine. Mazda requests past oil changes which I have one. Mazda presents me with a $4,100 estimate to fix replace the turbo, engine repair and timing chain. Notice that in January of 2008, Mazda North american operations put out a service bulletin no. 01-002/08 describing this exact problem. However the bulletin clearly states "only to verified customer complaints on vehicles eligible for warranty repair." Great! it can be fixed, Mazda says so! oh, what? not so fast. Mazda tech says there is a sludging problem therefore voiding the warranty. But the service bulletin says it can be fixed due to my complaint. After further research I discover that the turbo system in this car has an engineering problem causing way! to much heat for normal use, therefore burning oil, therefore causing sludge. Mazda uses this "evidence of sludge" caused by them! to claim that the owner did not maintain their vehicle, therefore "your warranty has been voided." Mazda is trying to avoid a recall on this for obvious costly reasons. I have contacted an attorney and he is currently working on my case.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #4

Aug 072009

CX-7

  • 45,000 miles
At 45,000 miles my 2007 Mazda Cx-7 began blowing thick white smoke out from the exhaust and from under the hood. Took the car to dealer who said the turbo went out and was leaking oil into the exhaust system. They replaced the turbo and covered the part and charged me the $600 in labor to install it. Car is now at 57,000 miles and is showing the same symptoms when rpms go over 4000.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #3

Dec 152009

CX-7

  • 28,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My wife was driving our 2007 Cx-7 with approximately 28K miles along a four lane major road when car lost power and became basically undriveable. Leaving her sitting on a extremely busy section of road with my 2 year old son in the back seat as people are flying off an entrance ramp from aberdeen proving ground. She fought it to the shoulder of us route 40 North of baltimore, leaving her in a very dangerous situation. Mazda dealership where vehicle was purchased was less than a half mile from failure location and after traffic had died down I was able to limp vehicle to dealer with wife following me at 10 mph. Turbocharger failure has been blamed, as usual Mazda has denied warranty work due to engine sludge, even though vehicle has been maintained. After thorough research for the last month, while my vehicle has sat at the dealership, via many websites edmunds forum, mycx7.com, mazdas247.com etc. Mazda is claiming same engine sludge is cause of failure of numerous timing chains, turbos, vvt actuators etc. Even on vehicles that have been maintained by their dealerships. There has been a technical service bulletin released by Mazda (tsb# mtol - 5505) that stated the flawed design of their PCV system not allowing oil to drain properly from the turbocharger. No fix has been made available with recent information I have read in regards to the flawed PCV not circulating the oil. Hope someone can bring this flawed design engine to light before someone or a family is killed in a major accident where their car leaves them stranded in the middle of a highway like I-95. Thanks for the time in looking into this matter.

- Belcamp, MD, USA

problem #2

Sep 092009

CX-7

  • 66,000 miles
I recently had air compressor got acgo out on Mazda CX7 just out of warranty. Allegedly, Mazda is aware of problem with design and doing nothing.

- Charles Town, WV, USA

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problem #1

Jun 072008

CX-7

  • 23,000 miles
My daughter has a Mazda 2007 Cx-7 and I have a 2008 Cx-7. the air conditioning in these cars, as witnessed by hundreds of complaints on line, is appalling. She had a pinhole in one of the hoses and it took 6 days to repair...for a hose?? additionally, her car has been back to the dealership 3 times for white smoke billowing out of the tailpipes...they have "no idea" what is causing it.

- St Petersburg, FL, USA

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